U.S. patent application number 15/628167 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-20 for cable connector with backshell locking.
The applicant listed for this patent is Amphenol Corporation. Invention is credited to Paolo Menolotto, Thien Huu Nguyen.
Application Number | 20180366873 15/628167 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64658365 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180366873 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Menolotto; Paolo ; et
al. |
December 20, 2018 |
CABLE CONNECTOR WITH BACKSHELL LOCKING
Abstract
A cable connector that includes a housing that receives a
contact member and has opposite first and second ends, an inner
sleeve having an insert section extending into the second end of
the housing and a cable termination section for receiving a cable
and that includes a locking portion, a backshell having a first end
that couples to the second end of the housing and an opposite
second end that surrounds the sleeve's cable termination section,
and a locking member positioned between the sleeve's cable
termination section and the second end of the backshell. The
locking member has a locking element for cooperating with the
sleeve's locking portion. The backshell is rotatable with respect
to the housing in a tightening direction, and the locking element
engages the locking portion of the inner sleeve such that rotation
of the backshell in a loosening direction opposite the tightening
direction is prevented.
Inventors: |
Menolotto; Paolo; (Mount
Martha, AU) ; Nguyen; Thien Huu; (Springvale,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Amphenol Corporation |
Wallingford |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
64658365 |
Appl. No.: |
15/628167 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/5202 20130101;
H01R 33/975 20130101; H01R 13/622 20130101; H01R 13/639 20130101;
H01R 4/301 20130101; H01R 13/5205 20130101; F16F 1/368 20130101;
H01R 13/59 20130101; H01R 13/641 20130101; H01R 13/514 20130101;
H01R 9/2408 20130101; H01R 13/6277 20130101; H01R 13/533 20130101;
H01R 4/2475 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/627 20060101
H01R013/627; H01R 13/641 20060101 H01R013/641 |
Claims
1. A cable connector, comprising: a housing having opposite first
and second ends, the first end being configured to interface with a
mating connector, the housing receiving a contact member therein;
an inner sleeve having an insert section extending into the second
end of the housing and a cable termination section for receiving a
cable, and the cable termination section including a locking
portion; a backshell having a first end that couples to the second
end of the housing and an opposite second end that surrounds the
cable termination section of the inner sleeve; and at least one
locking member positioned between the cable termination section of
the inner sleeve and the second end of the backshell, the locking
member having a locking element for cooperating with the locking
portion of the inner sleeve, wherein the backshell is rotatable
with respect to the housing in a tightening direction, and the
locking element of the locking member engages the locking portion
of the inner sleeve such that rotation of the backshell in a
loosening direction opposite the tightening direction is
prevented.
2. The cable connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking
portion of the inner sleeve includes one or more outwardly
extending teeth extending from the cable termination section of the
inner sleeve.
3. The cable connector according to claim 2, wherein the locking
element is at least one inwardly extending tooth configured for a
ratchet engagement with the one or more outwardly extending teeth
of the inner sleeve.
4. The cable connector according to claim 3, wherein the at least
one inwardly extending tooth and the one or more outwardly
extending teeth have cooperating tangential surfaces allowing
rotation of the backshell in the tightening direction and
cooperating radial surfaces preventing rotation of the backshell in
the loosening direction.
5. The cable connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking
member includes a release element that extends at least partially
through the second end of the backshell such that at least part of
the release element is accessible from outside of the
backshell,
6. The cable connector according to claim 5, wherein the release
element of the locking member extends through the backshell in a
radial direction and the at least part of the release element is
configured to engage a lifting tool to lift the locking member away
from the backshell, thereby releasing the backshell.
7. The cable connector according to claim 6, wherein the release
element includes a slot that is sized to receive the lifting
tool.
8. The cable connector according to claim 5, wherein the locking
member is a leaf spring, the locking element extends inwardly from
an inner surface of the leaf spring, and the release element
extends outwardly from an outer surface of the leaf spring.
9. The cable connector according to claim 8, wherein the leaf
spring includes at least one arm coupled to the backshell.
10. The cable connector according to claim 1, the cable termination
section of the inner sleeve includes a strain relief portion.
11. The cable connector according to claim 10, wherein the strain
relief portion is at a distal end of the cable termination section
of the inner sleeve.
12. The cable connector according to claim 10, wherein the strain
relief portion is adjacent to the locking portion on the cable
termination section.
13. The cable connector according to claim 11, wherein the strain
relief portion is one or more collet fingers configured to
cooperate with a chamfered surface of the backshell to provide
strain relief to the cable.
14. A cable connector, comprising: a housing having opposite first
and second ends, the first end being configured to interface with a
mating connector, and the housing receiving a contact member; a
backshell having opposite first and second ends, the first end
thereof being configured to couple to the second end of the housing
by rotating the backshell in a tightening direction; an inner
sleeve having an insert section and a cable termination section,
the insert section extending into the second end of the housing and
the cable termination section being configured to receive a cable;
means for locking the backshell onto the housing such that the
backshell is prevented from rotating with respect to the housing in
a loosening direction that is opposite the tightening direction;
and means for providing strain relief to the cable received in the
cable termination section of the inner sleeve, wherein the means
for locking the backshell and the means for providing strain relief
operate independently of one another, and wherein both the means
for locking the backshell and the means for providing strain relief
are located at the cable termination section of the inner
sleeve.
15. The cable connector according to claim 14, further comprising
means for releasing the means for locking the backshell, thereby
allowing the backshell to be rotated with respect to the housing in
a loosening direction.
16. The cable connector according to claim 14, wherein the means
for locking the inner sleeve includes a locking member disposed
between the backshell and the inner sleeve wherein the locking
member cooperates with a locking portion of the cable termination
section of the inner sleeve.
17. The cable connector according to claim 16, wherein the locking
member is a leaf spring that includes an inwardly extending locking
element that engages the locking portion of the inner sleeve and an
opposite outwardly extending release element that engages the
backshell.
18. The cable connector according to claim 17, wherein the locking
portion of the inner sleeve includes one or more outwardly
extending teeth extending from the cable termination section of the
inner sleeve and the locking element is at least one inwardly
extending tooth, the one or more outwardly extending teeth and the
at least one inwardly extending tooth form a one-way ratchet
engagement allowing the backshell to rotate in the tightening
direction and preventing the backshell from rotating in the
loosening direction.
19. The cable connector according to claim 18, wherein the release
element extends through the inner sleeve so as to be accessible
from outside of the inner sleeve by a tool.
20. The cable connector according to claim 14, wherein the means
for providing strain relief includes a plurality of collet fingers
at a distal end of the cable termination section of the inner
sleeve that cooperate with a chamfered surface of the backshell for
crimping onto the cable.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cable connector with a
locking system designed to prevent exposure to the wires of the
cable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional cable connectors, particular power connectors,
present a risk of injury if the wires of the cable are
inadvertently accessed or exposed. This may happen if the connector
is in an extreme environment, such as a vibration environment,
which often loosens and ultimately disassembles the components of
the connector exposing the cable wire and other potentially live
components. This may also happen if the nut of the connector is
inadvertently loosened through normal connector use making the
cable wires accessible. Adding additional components to a
conventional cable connector to prevent this risk would
significantly increases the size of the connector, making that
connector incompatible with many equipment systems.
[0003] Therefore, a need exists for a cable connector that is
configured to reduce the risk of injury due to exposure to
hazardous live components and cable wires while maintaining a
compact design of the connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, the present invention may provide a cable
connector that comprises a housing that has opposite first and
second ends and receives a contact member, the first end being
configured to interface with a mating connector; an inner sleeve
that has an insert section that extends into the second end of the
housing and a cable termination section for receiving a cable, and
the cable termination section includes a locking portion; a
backshell that has a first end that couples to the second end of
the housing and an opposite second end that surrounds the cable
termination section of the inner sleeve; and at least one locking
member that is positioned between the cable termination section of
the inner sleeve and the second end of the backshell. The locking
member has a locking element for cooperating with the locking
portion of the inner sleeve. The backshell is rotatable with
respect to the housing in a tightening direction, and the locking
element of the locking member engages the locking portion of the
inner sleeve such that rotation of the backshell in a loosening
direction opposite the tightening direction is prevented.
[0005] In certain embodiments, the locking portion of the inner
sleeve includes one or more outwardly extending teeth extending
from the cable termination section of the inner sleeve; the locking
element may be at least one inwardly extending tooth configured for
a ratchet engagement with the one or more outwardly extending teeth
of the inner sleeve; and/or the at least one inwardly extending
tooth and the one or more outwardly extending teeth may have
cooperating tangential surfaces allowing rotation of the backshell
in the tightening direction and cooperating radial surfaces
preventing rotation of the backshell in the loosening
direction.
[0006] In some embodiments, the locking member may include a
release element that extends at least partially through the second
end of the backshell such that at least part of the release element
is accessible from outside of the backshell; the release element of
the locking member extends through the backshell in a radial
direction and the at least part of the release element is
configured to engage a lifting tool to lift the locking member away
from the backshell, thereby releasing the backshell; and/or the
release element may include a slot that is sized to receive the
lifting tool.
[0007] In other embodiments, the locking member may be a leaf
spring where the locking element extends inwardly from an inner
surface of the leaf spring, and the release element extends
outwardly from an outer surface of the leaf spring; the leaf spring
may include at least one arm coupled to the backshell; the cable
termination section of the inner sleeve may include a strain relief
portion; the strain relief portion may be at a distal end of the
cable termination section of the inner sleeve; the strain relief
portion may be adjacent to the locking portion on the cable
termination section; and/or the strain relief portion may be one or
more collet fingers configured to cooperate with a chamfered
surface of the backshell to provide strain relief to the cable.
[0008] The present invention may also provide a cable connector
that comprises a housing having opposite first and second ends and
receives a contact member, the first end being configured to
interface with a mating connector; a backshell having opposite
first and second ends, the first end thereof being configured to
couple to the second end of the housing by rotating the backshell
in a tightening direction; an inner sleeve having an insert section
and a cable termination section, the insert section extending into
the second end of the housing, and the cable termination section
being configured to receive a cable; means for locking the
backshell onto the housing such that the backshell is prevented
from rotating with respect to the housing in a loosening direction
that is opposite the tightening direction; and means for providing
strain relief to the cable received in the cable termination
section of the inner sleeve. The means for locking the backshell
and the means for providing strain relief operate independently of
one another. Both the means for locking the backshell and the means
for providing strain relief are located at the cable termination
section of the inner sleeve.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the connector also includes a
means for releasing the means for locking the backshell, thereby
allowing the backshell to rotate with respect to the housing in a
loosening direction. In one embodiment, the means for locking the
inner sleeve may include a locking member disposed between the
backshell and the inner sleeve wherein the locking member
cooperates with a locking portion of the cable termination section
of the inner sleeve. In another embodiment, the locking member may
be a leaf spring that includes an inwardly extending locking
element that engages the locking portion of the inner sleeve and an
opposite outwardly extending release element that engages the
backshell. The locking member may be formed of a resilient
injection molded material.
[0010] In yet another embodiment, the locking portion of the inner
sleeve may include one or more outwardly extending teeth extending
from the cable termination section of the inner sleeve and the
locking element is at least one inwardly extending tooth, the one
or more outwardly extending teeth and the at least one inwardly
extending tooth form a one-way ratchet engagement allowing the
backshell to rotate in the tightening direction and preventing the
backshell from rotating in the loosening direction. The release
element may extend through the inner sleeve so as to accessible
from outside of the inner sleeve by a lifting tool. In a certain
embodiment, the means for providing strain relief may include a
plurality of collet fingers at a distal end of the cable
termination section of the inner sleeve that cooperate with a
chamfered surface of the backshell for crimping onto the cable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of
the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawing figures:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cable connector
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cable
connector illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cable connector
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cable connector
illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the cross-section of
the cable connector illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cable
connector illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0018] and
[0019] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a backshell and locking member
of the cable connector illustrated in FIG. 1; and
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an inner sleeve of the cable
connector illustrated in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the present invention generally
relates to a cable connector 100, such as a power connector, that
has locking at its back or cable end. By providing locking at the
back of the connector 100, the connector's components and the cable
will remain assembled, even when in a vibration environment. In
addition, the locking of the present invention prevents a user from
inadvertently gaining access to potentially hazardous internal live
wires (of a cable attached to the connector) by accidentally
twisting off a backshell 110 of the connector 100. That is, the
locking of the present invention prevents access without a
deliberate user action, preferably involving the use of a lifting
tool, generally simultaneously and in combination with the
backshell 110 being twisted in a loosening direction. The locking
of the present invention also prevents the connector from
malfunctioning when mated with another connector thus providing a
more reliable connector. That is, the locking of the present
invention prevents the backshell 110 from inadvertently
disassembling, thereby ensuring the contact member of the connector
remains inside of the connector. The locking of the cable connector
also advantageously provides strain relief for the cable in
addition to providing the backshell locking.
[0022] Also, by locating the locking of the present invention at
the back of the connector 100 (rather than near the thread of a
housing that engages with the backshell), connector sealing
features (such as O-rings and grommets) can be easily included in
the connector such that all seals are under compression to provide
a long-life sealing performance for the connector. The present
invention allows the seals to reside inside of the connector,
thereby avoiding deterioration of the seals over time. An in the
connector of the present invention, any resilient sealing materials
are kept separate from any sharp elements to avoid tears or
perforations in the sealing materials and elements.
[0023] As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cable connector 100 generally
includes a housing 104, a contact member 106, an inner sleeve 108,
the backshell 110, and a locking member 112 (FIG. 7) positioned
between the inner sleeve 108 and the backshell 110. Housing 104 may
have a generally cylindrical body with opposite first and second
ends 120 and 122. First end 120 may be the front end of the housing
104 that is configured to interface with a mating connector. Second
end 122 may be a back end of the housing 104 that couples to
backshell 110. Housing 104 also supports the contact member 106.
Contact member 106 may be a contact insert, for example, as is well
known in the art.
[0024] Inner sleeve 108 may have a substantially cylindrical body
that has two sections including an insert section 126 and a cable
termination section 128. An outwardly extending shoulder 130 may be
provided between sections 126 and 128. Insert section 126 is
inserted into the second end 122 of housing 104, such that the
housing end abuts shoulder 130. Insert section 126 and the
housing's second end 122 may include an alignment mechanism, such
as cooperating alignment keys, to facilitate insertion and
alignment of the insert section 126 with the housing's second end
122 and also to prevent rotation of inner sleeve 108 with respect
to housing 104. Cable termination section 128 receives a prepared
end of the cable where one or more conductors of the cable are
electrically coupled to the contact member 106, as is known in the
art. Cable termination section 128 includes both a locking portion
132 and a strain relief portion 134, as best seen in FIG. 8.
Backshell 110 has opposite first and second ends 140 and 142.
Backshell 110 may be, for example, a coupling nut. First end 140
couples to the second end 122 of housing 104. In a preferred
embodiment, first end 140 of backshell 110 and second end 122 of
housing 104 are coupled via a threaded engagement. That is, housing
second end 122 may have outer threads 138 that engage inner threads
144 of backshell first end 140, as seen in FIG. 2. It should be
appreciated that any known engagement may be used to couple the
backshell 110 to the housing 104. The second end 142 of backshell
110 surrounds cable termination section 128 of inner sleeve
108.
[0025] The outer surface of backshell 110 preferably includes a
gripping area 146 to facilitate gripping and rotation of backshell
110. The outer surface may include one or more flats to facilitate
gripping of the backshell 110 using a standard tool, such as an
open ring spanner. The second end 142 of backshell 110 may further
include a pass through opening 146 (FIGS. 5 and 6) that is
configured to receive part of locking member 112. A recessed area
148 may be provided on the outer surface of backshell 110 that is
adjacent to pass through opening 146 to facilitate access to the
part of locking member 112 received in pass through opening 146
from outside of backshell 110.
[0026] As seen in FIGS. 4-7, locking member 112 is located in a
space between the locking portion 132 of the cable termination
section 128 and the backshell 110 so that it is not under
compression even when strain relief is applied to the strain relief
portion 134 of the cable termination section 128 by the backshell
110. Locking member 112 generally includes a locking element 150
and a release element 152. Locking element 150 cooperates with
locking portion 132 of the inner sleeve's cable termination section
128 to allow the backshell 110 to rotate in a tightening direction
to tighten onto housing 104 and the cable received in inner sleeve
108, while also preventing the backshell 110 from rotating in the
opposite loosening direction, thereby preventing inadvertent
loosening of backshell 110 from the connector. Release element 152
cooperates with the second end 142 of backshell 110 to assist with
releasing of locking element 150 to loosen backshell 110 if
desired.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the locking of the present
invention provides a positive engagement one-way ratchet lock. For
example, locking element 150 of locking member 112 may comprise at
least one tooth that extends radially inwardly with respect to the
longitudinal axis of connector 100 and locking portion 132 of inner
sleeve 108 may comprises one or more teeth that extend radially
outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of connector 100.
The teeth of the inner sleeve's locking portion 132 may be spaced
annularly on the cable termination section 128 of inner sleeve 108.
The number of teeth of the locking portion 132 is preferably
selected to optimize precision of the ratchet locking by providing
smaller degrees of rotation. The tooth 150 of locking member 112
may engage the one or more outwardly extending teeth of the inner
sleeve's locking portion 132 such that cooperating tangential
surfaces 154 and 164 of each allows rotation of backshell 110 in
the tightening direction and cooperating radial surfaces 156 and
166 of each prevent rotation of backshell 110 for rotating in the
loosening direction, as best seen in FIG. 5.
[0028] In an alternative embodiment, the locking may work as a
detent system. In this system the tooth 150 may have a more rounded
tip and, while it can still have some bias, it does not positively
engage against a loosening direction or a tightening direction. In
this embodiment, the protruding release element may be eliminated
and the locking would function based on the degree of frictional
resistance, this being generally limited to the flexural properties
of locking element 112.
[0029] Backshell 110 may be manually released by using a lifting
tool, such as a flathead screw driver, that engages a portion of
release element 152 that extends in and/or through the pass through
opening 146 of backshell 110 and is accessible from outside of
backshell 110, as seen in FIG. 6. In a preferred embodiment,
release element 152 includes a slot 170 (FIG. 5) that is sized to
receive the lifting tool such that locking member 112 may be lifted
away from the connector thereby disengaging the inwardly extending
tooth 150 from the teeth on locking portion 132 of inner sleeve 108
and allowing backshell 110 to be rotated in the loosening
direction. Recessed area 148 on the outer surface of backshell 110
adjacent to the pass through opening 146 allows the lifting tool to
rest thereon, thereby providing a lever action for the lifting tool
to facilitate lifting of the locking member 112 via slot 170.
Alternatively, backshell 110 may incorporate a toggle type release
lever for the locking member 112 so that a special tool is not
required to release the backshell 110. This toggle lever could be
housed, for example, within an internal slot on the rearward facing
wall of the backshell. A downward force applied to the toggle lever
would lift the locking tooth 150 while applying a turning action to
the backshell in the loosening direction would release locking
member 112.
[0030] Locking member 112 is preferably flexible to allow inwardly
extending tooth 150 to move radially inwardly and outwardly with
respect to outwardly extending teeth of the inner sleeve's locking
portion 132 as the backshell 110 is rotated in the tightening
direction. In a preferred embodiment, locking member 112 is a leaf
spring with first and second spring arms 160 and 162, as seen in
FIG. 7. Springs arms 160 and 162 may be coupled to backshell 110,
via pivot pins or the like, to hold inwardly extending tooth 150 in
its radial position. The pivot pins may be located on opposite
sides of the inner surface circumference of backshell 110. The
spring arms 160 and 162 preferably have a certain length to allow
sufficient flexural movement of the tooth 150 during ratcheting and
release, while still keeping the inner sleeve 108 at a low profile.
As the tooth 150 follows the ratchet profile of the outwardly
extending teeth of the inner sleeve's locking portion 132, spring
arms 160 and 162 flex inwardly or outwardly pivoting and/or flexing
about the pivot pins at preferably two points located within the
backshell 110. The neutral position of the spring arms 160 and 162
is preferably in an outwardly and open position so that the
inwardly extending the tooth 150 pulls inwards towards the
correspondingly toothed inner sleeve locking portion 132 in order
to be ready to lock on the most adjacent of the teeth of locking
portion 132 of inner sleeve 108 should backshell 110 be turned in
the loosening direction.
[0031] Leaf spring 112 may be formed of any resilient structurally
sturdy injection moldable material (e.g. POM) for
cost-effectiveness and strength performance. Alternatively, leaf
spring 112 may by stamping it out of a metallic resilient material.
Leaf spring 112 may be formed as one-piece or separate pieces
integrally attached to one another.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 8, the connector 100 of the present
invention also provides strain relief to the cable thereof. Cable
termination section 128 of inner sleeve 108 includes the strain
relief portion 134 in addition to the locking portion 132. In a
preferred embodiment, strain relief portion 134 is at a distal end
174 on cable termination section 128 and generally adjacent to
locking portion 132. Strain relieve portion 134 may comprise one or
more collet fingers 176 that cooperate with a chamfered surface 178
(FIG. 6) at the rear of backshell 110 to clamp the cable as
backshell 110 is rotated in the tightening direction, thereby
providing strain relief to the cable. The number and size of collet
clamp fingers 176 uniformly compress the grommet element fitted to
the cable exterior to achieve good cable strain relief without
damaging the cable jacket while also providing sealing along the
cable jacket interface.
[0033] Although both the strain relief and locking systems of the
present invention are preferably both provided at the back end of
the connector 100, the strain relief and locking systems operate
separately from one another. Thus, even if the strain relief of the
present invention is not well activated, backshell 110 will still
remain positively locked relative to housing 104 due to the locking
system of the present invention. And the locking system will not be
affected by the elasticity or stiffness of the jacket of the cable.
As such, the connector 100 can accommodate cables with jackets of
varying stiffness while still providing a positive lock for
backshell 110, even if the cable jacket stiffness changes over
time.
[0034] While particular embodiments have been chosen to illustrate
the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art
that various changes and modifications can be made therein without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims. For example, the locking of the present invention
could be applied to the front end, i.e. the mating end that
interfaces with another connector, of the connector 100.
* * * * *